Catoctin clarion., 1887-09-01
A Runaway Trian.

ridden with his father and knew the
engine pooty we'll" Indeed the engi-
neer had frequently let the boy "drive"
on long stretch Of straight track.
One night he left Dave in charge
of the engine on siding, while he went
to supper as usual. There come up
furious wind;and after little some cars
shot by without an engine. The wind
had started them. Boys, think quick!
Down grade The lightning express
is to come that way
Nobody near. No telegraph wire.-
The trains are headed together. There
is less than an hour to catch those run.
away cars and pull them out of the way.
No time for hesitation /! He springs to
the lever, picks up speed and tears
away with grade and wind and steam
like Il whizzng arrow.
They arc miles ahead. The rushing
minutes are full of sudden comprehen.
sion. He almost sees through the dark,
tempestous night. What set him fly
ing toward this plunge was the thought
of the Lightning Express. Now dam
ger takes hold Of him. What if he is
lust too late! The runaway train is
in sight! Off steam! No, on again
Let the story tell the rest.
BE must slow up, but do it so nicely
that, when he does come up with them,
there shall be the least possible shock /;
for here is the hardest part Of the busi'
ness. He has no one to help him
"couple.' lie must be, tor the nonce.
both engineer and switchman. He had
not thought what formidable job this
wars until il stared him in the face.
On he flew revolving the situation in
his head and adjusting his engine with
the incest care until he was upon the
very heels of the runaway then with
many m.sgivings, slipped out Of the Ell,
CINE cab and crawled along the side
Of the locomotive, and down on the
"cow-catcher."
Here, seizing the coupler in one hand
and holding on with the other, he stood
watching with breatbless interest the
approaching collision. The suspense
was agonizing. The situation was per-
ilous. A gust of wind might sweep
him from his place, he might be shaken
off or crushed.
He was almost panic stricken. A
dozen times he WAS ut the point of turn
ing back. 70 his startled ears the air
was full of uncalmly sounds the sweep
Of another tornado. the rush Of the
Lightning" just ahead. But he had in
him the stuff which heroes are made of.
The hero, remember. is not he who is
insensiblc to danger, but rather he who
feels and realizes, but yet overcomes 1t.
The Meteor drew nearer the flying
tram. Dave had used excellent Judge.
ment in regulating the speed for at
length it came up with the rear car
with scarcely shock,so that Dave could
reach over and drop in the pin.
Then clammering back to the engine.
cab with trembling eagerness he seiz-
ed the throttle. 10 his amazement the
train did not stop. Instead Of the "Me-
teor's' stopping the ru' away, the run.
away dragged the Meteor along in its
headlong flight. Dave was horror
struck. lie had thought the train
would stop at once. He had not calcu-
lated what a tremendous impetus all
those heavy cars had acquired.
Now then, the tussle The tram be.
gan to slow up. 1t came to stand
still. Then the backward pull. Slow
ly they got under way but the wind
and up grade was against them.
Dave began to get anxious. "The
Lightning" must be due by this time.
He kept sharp lookout behind and
whistled like mad around the curves
At last he entered upon the long
straight level line of road which extend
ed clear to Blankton. Dave breathed
fear. 1t was the home.stretch--a good
ten-mile run.
Hardly had he congratulated himself
when far behind-but unmistakabe he
heard the scream Of the "Lightning's"
whistle. He was already going at his
topmost speed. He was making not
more than thirty.iiye miles all hour,
while the "Lightning' was coming on
at the rate of sixty. With horror he
heard it gaining on him the next whls-
tie was nearer, and at length when he
had made two. thirds the gleam of it's
headlight came shooting round wood
ed curve in his rear.